The 'once obscure, bearded baker' has become a hero to his people over the protest against detention without charge, newspaper says

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The agreement to free Khader Adnan, seen in an undated family handout made available on Saturday, ended a tense standoff that had drawn attention to a controversial Israeli policy of holding suspected Palestinian militants without charge.

JERUSALEM — A Palestinian prisoner on Tuesday agreed to end his 66-day hunger strike after reaching a deal with Israel that will free him in April, the Israeli Justice Ministry said.

The agreement ended a tense standoff that had drawn attention to a controversial Israeli policy of holding suspected Palestinian militants without charge.

Under the deal, Khader Adnan, a 33-year-old member of the Islamic Jihad militant group, agreed to resume eating immediately, the Justice Ministry said.

The statement said that if "no new additional substantial evidence" emerges against Adnan, he will be released on April 17, when a current, four-month detention order is to expire. It said that Adnan had accepted the deal through his attorney.

Adnan's supporters had expressed concern in recent days that he might not survive much longer. Doctors who have treated him say he has lost some 60 pounds, his hair was falling out and that he barely had strength to speak.

Tuesday's compromise was announced shortly before the Israeli Supreme Court was to hold an emergency hearing on Adnan's appeal. The court moved the hearing up by two days in light of the concerns for Adnan's health. He has been held in an Israeli hospital for several weeks because of his condition.

"This is of course a victory," she said in a telephone interview. "The Israelis had no proof and that's why they've agreed to these four months," she said. She laughed, and supporters could be heard screaming with joy in the background.